The Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN) on Wednesday held a workshop on harm reduction in prison for senior Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional officers.

The capacity building workshop was attended by senior officers from the Harare Metro province based at the Harare, Chikurubi Maximum, Women and Farm prisons.

ZCLDN director, Wilson Box said the workshop was meant to enhance knowledge of drug and substance use among prison officers and change attitudes and values towards drug use and reduce risk behavior associated with substance use among key populations including drug users.

“Prisoners are key populations and they are vulnerable to be infected by diseases. Therefore, there is need for humane treatment of prisoners including those who use drugs and we need to introduce the concept of harm reduction and drug policy reform,” Box said.

The prison officers went through the process of implementing and disseminating drug use and harm reduction strategies to inmates.

In his remarks ZPCS Chief Superintendent C. Mandave, expressed his gratitude to ZCLDN for its effort and support to his organisation and government.

“I want to appreciate efforts by the ZPCS towards preventing alcohol and illicit drugs within our prisons. However, it is evident that much needs to be done to spare us from enormous negative consequences of drugs and other substance use,” said Chief Sup Mandave.

He said the workshop had increased awareness and knowledge of drug and substance use among prison officers.

“Therefore, change attitudes and values towards drug use and reduce the risky behaviours associated with drug and substance use among our inmates, officers and dependents. This can be achieved when organisations such as the ZPCS consider approaches, strategies, policies, procedures and interventions that impact positively on the psychological or safety of its officers and inmates,” he further explained.